Station-meter index.



No. 809,127. PATENTED JAN. 2, 1906.

D. MODONALD n L. M. SCOFIELD.

STATION METER INDEX.

APPLICATION FILED APR.Z9, 1904. BENEWED DEU. 8, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

777 e 6A? J2e-w M 0734 N0. 809,127. PATENTED JAN. 2, 1906. D. MGDONALD NL. M. SCOTTBLD.

STATION METER INDEX.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29,1904. RENEWBD DEG.8,1905.

s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Q ff WW No. 809,127. PATENTED JAN. 2, 1906. D. MUDONALD & L. M.SGOFIELD. STATION METER INDEX.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29, 1904. RENBWED DEO. 8,1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET. 3. 7gg 6? .tion of one side of one of the dial-rings.

v"UNrrnn s'rnprngnivr OFFICE.

DONALD MODONALD AND LYNN M. SCOFIELD, OF ALBANY. NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TOAMERICAN METER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STATION-METER INDEX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2a, 1906.

o (1J/Z whom, t mfctjl/ con/cern:

Be it known that we, DONALD MODONALD and LYNN MASON ScoFIELD, citizensof the United States, residing at Albany, in the county of Albany andState of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements inStation-Meter 1ndexes, of which the following is a speciiication. Thisinvention relates to certain new and useful improvements in what areknown as station-meter indexes, and has for its ob* `jects to providecertain novel combinations and operations of parts and details ofconstruction in a device of this character comprising anobservation-dial, time mechanism, registering mechanism, and a recordingdevice or telltale, and the mechanism operating these various parts.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, we haveillustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isa view in elevation of a complete index constructed according to ourinvention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional .view of the same.Fig. 3 is a view in eleva- Fig. 4 is a view of the opposite side of saiddialring to that shown byFig. 3 and also showing a cooperative gear.Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of two of the dial-rings and acoperative gear. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the recording-cylinder.Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. S is a section onthe line 8 8 of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 isa longitudinal section of therecording-cylinder. Fig. 10 is a detail of one end of the swingingsegment, and Fig. 11 is a detail view showing the means for locking theworm-gear to the threaded bar.

Referring now to the drawings, the index vcomprises a frame consistingof two parallel plates 1 2, spaced apart and rigidly secured together bymeans of posts 3. The bottom or base plate 2 has an extension 4supporting a chain of gears 5, the outermost gear of which is intendedto form the connection from the secondary shaft of the station-meter tothe index. Mounted on the upper or face plate 1 is an observation-dial7, on the shaft of which is a gear 8, meshing with intermediate gearing,which in turn is in mesh with the chain of gears 5. The dial is providedaround its face with an inner and outer circular series of numbers, thenumbers on the inner circle corresponding in position to those on theouter circle, but being sixty times greater. The outer circle of iiguresindicates the actual number ofl cubic feet of gas produced, while theinner circle, over which the hand also sweeps, shows the registrationfor an hour. Thus the rate at which the meter is registering per hourmay be ascertained by Observation of the dial for one minute. Forinstance, if in one minute the hand passes from 0 to 1,000 on the outercircle it will indicate 60,000 on the inner circle, showing that themeter is registering sixty thousand cubic feet of gas per hour.

10 indicates the registering mechanism,

which comprises series of dial-rings 11 and i provided around theirperiphery with numbers running consecutively from 0 to 9. Each of thedial-rings has on opposite sides two metal disks, one of which, 12, isin the form of a gear-wheel, being provided with twenty gear-teeth ofstandard pitch. The other disk 13 is provided in its periphery with anotch 14 and on its outer face with a two-toothed flat segment 15 of atwentytooth gear, the outer peripheryo'f which segment coincides withthe periphery of the disk 13 and the toothed slot of which coincideswith the tooth-slot 14 in said disk. One of the disks or gears 16 on thedial-ring carrying numbers representing hundreds is in mesh with theeight-toothed gear 17, .[ixedly secured on a shaft 18, which issupported in bearings on the under side ofthe face-plate 1. On the endof said shaft 1S is a bevel-gear 19, which meshes with a similarbevel-gear 2O on a shaft 21, which shaft also carries a straight gear22. By means of interposed gear-wheels 23 the gear-wheel 22 isoperatively geared with the operating-gear 8 of the observationdial. Onthe opposite side of the registering mechanism to that at which theshaft 1S is located is mounted a shaft 24, which is supported insuitable bearings on the under side of the face-plate 1, and on thisshaft 24 are mounted at intervals gears 25, each of which has eightteeth, four of said teeth being wide and four narrow and said wide andnarrow teeth being arranged in alternation. As shown, the disk or gear12 of one dial-ring is located adjacent to but at a slight distance fromthe disk 13 of the adjacent dial-ring,

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said disk 13, as stated, having a single toothslot 14. The gears meshwith the gears 12 of the respective dial-rings, the arrangement beingsuch that the narrow teeth 26 can always mesh with the teeth of the gear12, the width of these teeth permitting them to enter the space betweenthe disk 13 and the gear 12, but two of the wide teeth 27 of each gear25 normally bear against the periphery of the disk 13, and in thisposition said gears 25 are prevented from rotation until in the rotationof the disk 13 the segment 15 engages one of the narrow teeth 26 in meshwith the gear 12, and thus rotates the gear 25, the broad tooth 27adjacent to the narrow tooth 26 which was engaged by the segment 15entering the tooth-slot 14 in the disk 13. As soon as the slot 14 passesout of engagement with said broad tooth the plain surface of the disk 13will again be engaged by two of the wide teeth 27, and thus the gear 25will be prevented from turning. It will be understood that theregisteringdials operate in the usual manner of this character ofdevices, each registering-dial being rotated from the preceding dial,commencing at the dial bearing the numbers representing hundreds. Inother words, each complete revolution of the hundreds-dial will operateto move the thousands-dial one point or number, and when thethousands-dial has been given a complete revolution it will operate tomove the tens-of-thousands-dial to advance one point or number, and soon. Two of the dials (indicated, respectively, by the immerals 28 and29) represent units and tens, and these dials are stationary, as thedevice is not intended to register below one hundred.

The purpose of the observation-dial is substantially indicatedby itsname,- but it may be stated that it is marked off to indicate the numberof cubic feet of gas produced per hour by observation of one minute. Theregistering mechanism, however, is intended to indicate the total amountof gas produced during any given length of time, or, in other words, tothe limit of the capacity of the mechanism to register. As actuallyconstructed ten dial-rings are used on the registering device, as shownin the drawings, but any number of these dial-rings greater or less thanthat named could be employed.

One of the gear-wheels 30 in the chain of gears 23 is provided with ashaft 31, on the upper end of which is a worm 32, which meshes with aworm-gear 33, which is loosely mounted on the end of a threaded bar 34.The threaded bar 34 is mounted in upright bearings 35 36, 'formingintegral parts of bearing-plates 37, secured to the upper side of theface-plate 1. The worm-gear 33 is loosely mounted on a reduced portionof the threaded shaft 34, and between the bearing 35 and said worm-gearis provided a j am-nut 38, mounted on a screw-threaded portion of saidreduced portion of the threaded rod, so that by turning the jam-nut 38away from the wormgear 33 the threaded bar may be turned independentlyof said gear to give an adjustment of less than one thread. By turningthe ain-nut 38 tightly against the worin-gear 33 said worin-gear will bejammed between said nut and the shoulder formed by reducing the end ofsaid bar, and thus the threaded bar 34 and the worm-gear 33 will becompelled to move together.

te have thus briefly described the parts of the device which areoperated from the chain of gears 5 receiving motion from the shaft ofthe meter, it only remaining to state that the dial-hand 9 moves inunison with the dialring 11, carrying the numbers representing hundreds,which dial-ring is operated from the gear-wheel 17.

le will now describe the construction and arrangement of the recorder ortelltale, which is operated from the clock mechanism. This recordercomprises a cylinder 39, constructed as hereinafter described, saidcylinder being loosely mounted on a shaft 40, which in turn is mountedin bearings 41 42, secured on the upper side of the face-plate. Thebearing 4-2 is a split bearing, one of its members 43 being pivotallysecured at 44 to the face-plate, being provided with a curved slot 45,through which extends a set-screw 46, which engages into the'face-plate. By loosening` the set-screw 46 the bearing-piece 43 may beturned to one side to permit the cylinder 39 to be lifted out of itsbearings. The cylinder 39 is provided at one end with a hub 47, which isprovided with a screwthreaded aperture fo receive a clampingscrew 48,which clamping-screw preferably projects beyond the face of the cylinderand affords a convenient means for adjusting the position of the same,as will hereinafter appear. Said clamping-screw is adapted to be screwedinto engagement with the shaft 40, and thus bind the cylinder thereto.Mounted on the shalt 40 adjacent to the hub 47 is a worin-gear 49.

50 indicates a clock the mechanism of which is connected, by means ofinterposed gearing, with a gear-wheel 51, secured on an upright shaft52, on the upper end of which is a worm 53, which is in mesh with thewormgear 49, mounted on the shaft 40 of the recorder. The relation ofthe gearing between the clock and cylinder is such that said cylinderwill be given one complete revolution in. every twenty-four hours. rl`hecylinder 39 is designed to carry a paper chart,which chart is ruled withhorizontal cordinates representing time and vertical cordinatesrepresenting cubic feet. In order to secure this chart about thecylinder, we have provided the following construction of cylinder.

54 indicates a segmental portion of the cylinder, which is pivotallymounted at one side IOO 68 and said edge portion.

in the ends 55 of said cylinder, as indicated at 55a. This segmentalportion of the cylinder is adapted to swing on its pivots and isprovided near opposite ends with radial plates 56 57 each of whichcarries a short tube 58, forming a housing for a spring-controlled pin59, which is adapted to spring out into a hole 60 to maintain thesegment in a closed position. For the purpose of lifting the swingingsegment we provide a curved slot 6l in one of the disks 55 forming oneend of the cylinder, and through this slot passes a pin 62, whichengages in the plate 57 of the swinging segment. Mounted on this pin isan arm 63, having a bent outer end 64 projecting a slight distancebeyond the cylinder, whereby by inserting the finger under said bent endthe swinging segment may be opened, the pin 62 being guided in the slot6l. For guiding the other end of the swinging segment we provide acurved slot 65 in the opposite end of the cylinder to that referred to,through which slot we pass a screw 66, which is screwed into the plate56 of the swinging segment.A As shown, the ends of the swinging segmentproject a slight distance beyond the radial plates 56 and 57, and saidprojecting portions are adapted in the closed position of the swingingsegment to rest upon shoulders 67, formed on the inner sides of each ofthe end disks 55. Extending between the ends of the cylinder and securedat opposite ends thereto is a bar 68, which extends parallel with oneedge portion 69 of the part of the cylinder from which the segment hasbeen removed, and said bar projects slightly beyond the edge portion 69and is also out of contact with the same, providing a space 70. Inplacing a chart about the cylinder the segment is opened and the chartis folded at the starting-line and said folded portion is slipped overthe edge portion 69 and into the space 70 between the bar The chart isnow lapped around the cylinder and folded over the outer edge portion ofthe swinging segment 54, and said swinging segment is then closed, thuspresenting the effective registration surface of the chart in continuouscylindrical form, offering no obstruction to the oint of pen hereinafterreferred to and alowing complete and accurate record for one or morerevolutions of the cylinder. rlhe pins 59 hold the swinging segment inits closed position; but by a slight pull exerted on the arm 6'3 saidswinging segment maybe readily opened to remove the chart. Mountedparallel with the threaded bar 34 and supported in bearings from theunder side of the faceplate 1 is a bar 71,' on which is slidably andpivotally mounted a carriage 72, provided on its inner face with asemicylindrical threaded portion 73, which threaded portion is adaptedto engage with the threads of the bar 34. The carriage 7 2 is providedat its outer end with bearings 74, in which is mounted a rod 75, and onsaid rod is pivot'ally mounted an arm 76, on the outer end of which isprovided a slit ring 77, in which is held by friction a pen or pencil78, which is adapted to bear upon the chart, (hereinbefore referred toand indicated by 79.) The carriage is held in engagement with thethreaded bar 34 by its own weight, and the weight of the arm 76 issufficient to maintain the pencil 78 in contact with the chart. On theupper side of the carriage we provide a spring-catch 80, which isadapted to spring over the upper end of the arm 76 when the same islifted to remove the pencil from contact with tne chart and hold the armin this position, this being desirable when it is required to remove onechart and insert another upon the cylinder. The bearing 36 at one end ofthe threaded bar 34 is provided with an inwardly-projecting portion 81,the upper side of. which is beveled, as indicatedl at 82, and thecarriage 72 is provided at one side with a lug 83, which is adapted toride up this beveled side, and thus lift the carriage 7 3 out ofengagement with the threaded bar 34 when said carriage has reached theend of its traverse in one direction, thus preventing jamming of theparts. When the carriage 73 has been moved to the end of the threadedbar in starting the record on a new chart, if it be found that thepencil does not rest on the starting-line of the chart the jam-nut 38may be loosened and the threaded bar 34 turned until the correctposition of the pencil is obtained, and said. jam- .nut is again screwedup against the wormgear 33. This refers to having the pencil correctlypositioned on the first or starting vertical line of the chart. Tosecure the correct position relative t0 the pencil of the first orstarting horizontal line, the clamping-screw 48 is loosened, when thecylinder 39 may be readily revolved on its shaf t by means of saidclamping-screw until the correct position is reached, when the saidscrew is again turned to bind against the shaft 40.

It will thus be seen that our improved index not only provides anobservation-dial and a registering mechanism, but also combined withthese mechanisms and with a clock mechanism is a recorder which willindicate the registration of gas bya meter for twentyfour hours orduring any part of the twentyfour hours, showing any changes in the rateof production and furnishing a basis for correction due to changes inpressure or temperature at any time during the day. It will be apparent,further, that the recording device could be easily arranged to show theregistration for more than one day. For instance, it maybe arranged toshow the registration for a number of days on one chart either by theuse of a chart ruled to take care of a greater registration or byrestarting the pen on the same chart, or in lieu of these the speed ofthe threaded bar 34 could be changed.

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A further function of the spring-catch 8O may be mentioned-that is tosay, in the operative position of the parts as shown by Fig.2 saidspring bears against the rear side of the arm 76, and thus operates tohold the marking instrument in yielding contact with the surface of thechart. This is especially useful when a pencil is employed.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a station-meter index, in combination with a revolving cylinderadapted to carry a chart, a threaded shaft, a recording instrumentoperated by said shaft, a gear loosely mounted on said shaft, a jam-nuthaving screw-threaded engagement therewith and coperating with said gearfor the purpose described, and means for operating said gear.

2. In a station-meter index, a recorder comprising a shaft and means forrotating the same, a cylinder loosely mounted on said shaft and adaptedto carry a chart, a bindingscrew carried by said cylinder and projectingradially outward beyond the same and adapted t0 engage said shaft, arecording instrument cooperating with said recorder-cylinder, and meansfor operating said recording instrument.

3. In a station-meter index a recorder comprising a cylinder having aswinging segment to yieldingly engage the ends of the cylinder forholding said segment in its clamping position.

4. In a station-meterindex, a recorder comprising a cylinder having aswinging segment for clamping a chart to the cylinder and provided inits ends with recesses, and springpressed pins carried by said segmentand adapted to engage in said recesses for holding said segment in itsclamping position.

5. In a station-Ineter index, a recorder comprising a cylinder having aportion thereof cut away, a segment pivotally mounted in the ends of thecylinder and adapted to close against one edge of the cut-away portionof the cylinder, and a bar extending parallel with such edge but at adistance therefrom, substantially as described.

6. Inastation-meter index, arecorder con prising a cylinder having aportion thereof cut away, a segment pivotally mounted in the ends of thecylinder and adapted to close against one edge of the cut-away portionof the cylinder, and a bar extending parallel with such edge but at adistance therefrom and projecting beyond the same, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a station-meter index, a recorder comprising a cylinder having asegment thereof removed and pivotally mounted in the ends of thecylinder, radial plates projecting inward from said segment near theends thereof, means carried by said plates and engaging the ends of thecylinder for holding the segment in a closed position, and a liftingdevice projecting through a curved slot in one end of said cylinder andsecured to one of said plates for lifting said segment.

S. In a station-meter index, in combination with a recorder-drum, andmeans for rotatingthc same, a threaded shaft and means for rotating thesame, a slid ably-mounted carriage in mesh with said shaft, a recordinginstrument pivotally mounted on the outer end of said carriage andadapted to cooperate with said recorder-drum, and a spring-catch on saidcarriage adapted to engage the rear end of said instrument for holdingit out of contact with said recorder-drum.

9. In a station-meter index, in combination with a record er-drum andmeans for rotating the same, a threaded shaft and means for rotating thesame, a slidably-mounted carriage in mesh with said shaft, a recordinginstrument pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said carriage andadapted to coperate with said recorder-drum, and a spring on saidcarriage adapted to engage the outer end of said instrument for holdingit out of contact with said recorder-drum and to bear against the rearside of said instrument to hold it in yielding contact with saidrecorderdrum.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

DONALD MODONALD. LYNN M. SCOFIELD.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM McDoNALD, CHRISTIAN MEYER.

